January 24, 2008

Parents should now be aware that pet turtles are not to be meddled with. Because these small pets are now the growing concern of health officials linking them for the rise of Salmonella infections in young children. This has led to the hospitalization of more than a dozen of kids. The infection is spread from contact with the turtles, but the contact doesn't have to be direct because the virus can live on surfaces for weeks. Children tend to handle these turtles a great deal. Their fingers come into contact with all the material on the turtle and in the water. Then, there is finger-to-mouth contact, and they acquire the infection.

Gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, caused by the bacteria, typically begin 12 to 36 hours after exposure and generally last for two to seven days

The number of purchases for these animals has been increasing despite the ban since 1975.